Electric switch



May 20, 1952 P. M. cHRlsTENsr-:N 2,596,983

ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Jan. '7, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET l 53 ff G4' 66 ffl 22 l 30 J 26 46 A( I 5/ L" 55 72 S 23 I A je, I5 56 PAUL M. CHP/STE/VSE/V m UBM May 20, 1952 P. M. cHRlsTENsEN 2,596,983

ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Jan. 7, 1950 Patented May 20, 1952 ELECTRIC SWITCH Paul M. Christensen, West Orange, N. J., assignor to Federal Electric Products Company, Newark,

N. J., a corporation Application January 7, 1950, Serial No. 137,401

This invention relates to an electric switch. This application is a division of my application Serial No. 75,637, led February 10, 1949, for Switch With Arc-suppressing Device.

One object of the invention is the provision of a switch having a movable contact member provided with improved means for asssuring rm engagement thereof with the companion contact of the switch and also with the hinge Contact of the switch.

Another object of the invention is to provide a switch in which the movable contact member may be readily attached to the hinge contact and easily removed therefrom for replacement or repair.

Another object of the invention is to provide an arc interrupting device having arc-barrier members which are movable during the interruption of the switch in such a manner that the axes of said barrier members move laterally in a transverse plane beyond the plane of the outer surface of the walls of said device, thereby permitting its use with a multi-element type of switch contact member having greater relative thickness than the usual type of contact member.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be more fully understood from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings which show preferred embodiments of the arc interrupting device of this invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a side view of a switch with the arc interrupting device of the present invention, the switch being in open or circuit interrupting position;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the switch and arc interrupting device shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a front end view of the arc interrupting device;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line .5-5 of Fig. l;

Fig. 6 is a side view of the switch in closed or circuit making condition, with the arc interrupting device removed;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the switch shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a sectional View taken along the lines 8 8 in Fig. 7

Fig. 9 is a side view of a modification 0f the are interrupting device;

19 Claims. (Cl. ZOO- 162) Fig. 10 is a rear end view of the modification shown in Fig. 8; and

- Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken along the line H-II of Fig. 10.

In the drawings, the arc interrupting device of the present invention is illustrated as applied to one pole of a switch, but it will be understood that said arc interrupting device can be utilized in a switch having any number of poles. Also, in the switch illustrated, the switch actuating member is positioned below the movable contact member for moving it into and out of engagement with the stationary contact member. However, it will be understood that any other type of switch actuating member can be used with the movable contact and arc interrupting device of the present invention. Although the invention is applicable to various types of switches, it is intended primarily for use in a switch operated by a quick make and break actuating mechanism.

Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, the switch, which is shown here as provided with the movable contact member and arc interrupting device of the present invention, comprises an insulation panel or base 20 provided with a longitudinal groove 2|. Movable contact member 30 and stationary contact member le and the switch terminals (only one of which, l2, is here shown) are mounted on base 2D.

Movable contact member 30 is formed by blades 3| and 32. Each blade is formed from a iiat strip of material which has good electrical conducting properties and is recessed at its center, as shown at 29 in Figs. 2 and 7. The recessed portions 29 are placed back to back to form the bifurcated blade portions 46 and 41. The sides of each blade, in the bifurcated portion 46, beginning from a point approximately midway between the fork 48 and ends 33 and 34, are bent upwardly to form outward ares at the top and bottom of the passageway between the blades, as shown in Fig. 2, which passageway extends up to fork 48. This permits the ready entrance of stationary contact member 'l0 between the blades. Insulation members 22 are positioned in recesses 29 and are provided with dependent hooked portions for engagement with actuating member 21. The dependent portions are shaped to iit Within groove 2| in base 20 when the switch contact members are engaged and serve to stop the downward movement of movable contact member 30 when they are moved into position in the groove. It will be understood that insulation members 22 may be of different shapes and different forms and be otherwise positioned for engagement with other types of switch actuating members. Flat springs 38 and 39 are positioned against the outer side of each portion of insulation member 22 disposed within recesses 29 and are secured to movable contact member 30 by rivets 31, or other suitable means, which pass through aligned openings in flat springs 38 and 39, insulation members 22 and blades 3| and 32. Flat springs 38 and 39 press the end portions 33 and 34 of the blades toward each other and against stationary contact member to make and maintain good electrical contact with said stationary contact member. To aid in accomplishing this result, the flat springs are provided with up-turned end portions 44 and 45 as shown in Figs. 2 and '1. Spring portions 44 and 45 apply a converging pressure against end portions 33 and 34 and t between the upwardly bent sides in said end portions, as shown in Fig. 2. The inner end portions 49 of the dat springs press against the outer ends of the bifurcated portion 41 formed by blades 3| and 32. The hinge contact or lug 23, to which movable contact member 30 is pivotally secured, as will hereinafter be set forth, is attached to insulation panel 26 by means of screws 24. Lug 23 is provided with parts 25 and 26 engageable with the terminal of a fuse (not shown). Movable Contact member 30 is pivotally mounted on lug 23 by the at head pin 4| which passes through aligned openings in iiat springs 38, 39, blades 3|, 32 and lug 23, as shown in Fig. 8. Pin 4| is provided with a circular groove 42 and adjacent ball end 43. Slot 40 is provided at each end of flat springs 38 and 39 adjacent the pivoted end of movable contact 30. When pin 4| is inserted through contact member 30 and lug 23, a portion of spring 38 around the aligned opening through slot 40 presses into groove 42, as shown in Fig. 8. In this manner, pin 4| is held in operative position by spring 33 but can readily be withdrawn when it is desired to remove contact member 36 for repair, replacement or cleaning purposes. Springs 38 and 39 by applying pressure to the ends of the bifurcated portion 41 assure and maintain good electrical contact with lug 23.

Stationary contact member is mounted on insulated base 26 by screw 1| and is provided with switch terminal 12. Stationary contact member 10 is disposed to fit, under the resilient pressure of springs 38 and 39, between the sides of the bifurcated portion 46 formed by blades 3| and 32 or" movable contact member 30 and to make good electrical contact therewith. In this connection, it will be understood that when the movable contact member 30 engages contact 10, the latter iieXes the sides of portion 46 laterally away from each against the pressure of said springs, so that contact member 19 is rmly engaged between said sides of the movable contact member.

The arc interrupting device 50 comprises a chamber or arc-mulile hood having a pair of laterally spaced side walls 5|, a rear end Wall 52 and a lower front spacing portion 53. A slot 54 is provided in the lower front portion 53 to receive stationary contact member 10, as shown in Fig. 5, whereby to assure proper alignment of arc interrupting device 50 relative to movable contact member 33 and stationary contact member 1U and to prevent during movement of the switch lateral displacement of the device. A cut-out portion 55 in the rear end wall 52 is provided with an aperture 56 through which a screw 51, or any other suitable device, fastens the arc interrupting device to base "0. In this manner the device is iirmly secured against rotary displacement and also against upward and rearward displacement when the switch contacts are disengaged, while being readily removable for inspection, repair or replacement. One or more vents 58 are preferably, although not necessarily, provided in the rear wall 52 of the hood.

The hood may be fabricated from any suitable insulating and heat resisting material and, to facilitate molding said hood is preferably formed in two separate halves which are joined together by rivets 59, or any other suitable means. When arc interrupting device is mounted in position on base 20, stationary contact member 10 is disposed within slot 54 and extends upwardly into the chamber between side walls 5|. The movable contact member 30 is movable into and out of the chamber Within device 50 through the passage constituted by the upper end opening 13 and the front opening 14 of the chamber.

'Ihe arc-muffle hood is provided with arcbarrier means constituted by a pair of cylindrical members 6U and 6| which are mounted in companion openings 62 formed in side walls 5|. Said cylindrical members 6D and 6| t with a slight clearance in their companion wall openings 62, as shown in Fig. l and Fig. 4, so that they can move forward and away from each other and can also rotate in their companion wall openings about their longitudinal axes. Arc barrier members 60 and 6| are formed of any suitable insualting material. It will be noted that members 60 and 6| are positioned between the companion contact members, in the open condition of the switch, and are in the path of movable contact member 3|). Said members 60 and 6| are movable toward and away from each other transversely of the passage through which the movable contact member 30 moves for engaging and disengaging the companion stationary contact member 10. Members 60 and 6| are freely rotatable on pins 66, which extend through cylinder bores 16 in said members, and are rotatably positioned in grooves inside walls 5|. Each Wall 5| is provided, on its outer surface, with pairs of outwardly projecting portions 63 extending from groove 65. The projections 63 form guides for said pins 66 in the movement of members 60 and 6| laterally of side walls 5| during the opening and closing of the switch. Each member 66, 6| is free to rotate on its pin 66. When inserted in members 60, 6|, each pin projects laterally on each side of its companion member 60, 6 I, as shown in Fig. 1. Adjacent each of its ends, each pin 66 is provided with a peripheral groove 61. The grooved portion of each pin 66 is disposed in an outer end portion of each side wall groove 65. A U-shaped wire spring 68 is aflixed to the outer surface of side wall 5I by a rivet 69, or any other suitable means. The free ends of each spring 68 are resiliently disposed within the two peripheral grooves 61 on each pin 66. Springs 68 bias pins 66 into the grooves 65, and normally maintain barrier members 60, 6| in abutting relation or contact with each other. Barrier members 69, 6| upon the passage of movable contact member 30 through the arc chamber, are laterally displaceable in guides 63 against the inward bias of springs 68 and are free to rotate about their axes while pins 66 are positioned in grooves 65 or guides 63.

As shown in Fig. 1, device 50 is positioned so that it is forwardly inclined. In this position barrier members 60, 6I are disposed above stationary contact 10. As here shown, the members 60, 6| are parallel to the forwardly inclined top edge of contact 10. By reason of this position and arrangement of members 60, 6|, any arc which forms between the inclined top surface of member 'l0 and the confronting edge portions of movable contact member 3U strikes adjacent surface portions of said members 60, El and is subjected to the cooling action of the latter. Further, it will be observed that in the movement of the movable contact member 3D from its position in which it engages the companion stationary contact member 1D to a position out of engagement therewith, said movable contact member must pass between barrier members 6I, 62 at which time the latter are held in resilient engagement with the opposite sides of said movable contact by springs 68 which, however, permit said members 6|, 62 to move away from each other along channels B4, against the action of said springs to make room therebetween for said movable contact member. Thus, the movable contact member engages said members 60, 6l during the opening of the switch and causes said members to rotate freely about their longitudinal axes, thus presenting progressively different and cool surface portions thereof to the arc. is being moved out of engagement with stationary contact 10, insulation member 22 projects into the arc chamber and acts as a barrier to the passage of the arc through the front opening of the chamber.

Another embodiment 80 of my arc interrupting device is shown in Figs. 9, 10 and 11. In this embodiment, the arc chamber or hood is defined by a pair of laterally spaced opposite side walls 8 I a rear end wall 82 and a lower front portion 89, all of insulation material. In the same manner as device 50, the present embodiment has a rear cut-out portion 83 provided with an aperture 85 through which a screw, or other suitable means, is inserted to hold the device 8D in position and to prevent its rotary and vertical displacement. Device 80 is readily removable from the switch for inspection or replacement, by the removal of the screw in aperture 85. Similarly, device 80 is provided with a slot 88 in lower front portion 89. When affixed to the switch, stationary member I0 is disposed within slot 88 to establish the proper alignment of device 80 relative to the switch contact members. Moreover, with stationary member 'l0 disposed snugly in slot 88, lateral displacement of device 80 is prevented. As in device 50, device 80 is preferably, although not necessarily, provided with vents 86 in rear end wall 82, which serve the same function. Device 80 is preferably formed in two parts, for convenience in molding. If formed of two sections, they would be provided with aligned apertures to receive rivets 84, or any other suitable fastening means, in order to join the separate sections. The inner surface of each wall 8l is corrugated to define alternate rounded ridges 8l and furrows 90. By reason of the corrugated formation of the inner surfaces of walls 8|, the arcchamber in device 80 is effectively provided with increased internal surface area to improve the arc-cooling action.

When the switch contacts are engaged depending member 22 is positioned in front of the hood. As switch member 30 is moved out of engage- In addition, as contact member 38 c ment with contact 10, insulation member 22 projects into the hood and acts as a barrier to the passage of the arc through the front opening of the hood.

Thus, it is seen that the arc interrupting and switch construction described above is well adapted to accomplish the objects of the invention. It will be understood, however, that the latter may be embodied otherwise than as herein disclosed and that certain changes in details of construction and in arrangement of the parts might be made without departing from the underlying idea or principles of this invention. Also, the arc interrupting devices of the present invention can be associated with a single pole switch, as illustrated, as well as with a switch having a plurality of poles and it will be understood further that this invention can be applied to switches of types which differ from that of the illustrated switch.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. A switch contact member comprising a pair of blade members having spaced confronting end portions at the opposite ends, respectively, of said contact member, and resilient means carried by said blade members, said means being common to both of said opposite ends for concomitantly biasing said end portions at both said opposite ends, respectively, toward each other.

2. A switch contact member comprising a pair of blade members abutting at their centers and having spaced confronting end portions at the opposite ends, respectively, of said contact member, and resilient means carried by said blade members, said means being common to both of said opposite ends for concomitantly biasing said end portions at both said opposite ends, respectively, toward each other.

3. A switch contact member comprising a pair of blade members each having a laterally offset recessed portion, said recessed portions being positioned back to back to form two bifurcated end portions, and resilient means common to both of said end portions for concomitantly biasing the companion parts of said bifurcated portions toward each other.

4. A movable switch contact member comprising a pair of blade members each having a laterally offset portion forming a recess, said offset portions being positioned back to back to form two bifurcated portions, resilient means common to both of said end portions for concomitantly biasing the ends of each of said bifurcated portions toward each other, and means positioned in at least one of said recessed portions for moving said contact member.

5. A movable switch contact member comprising a pair of blade members each having a laterally offset portion forming a recess, said offset portions being positioned back to back to form two bifurcated portions, resilient means common to both of said end portions for concomitantly biasing the companion parts of each of said bifurcated portions toward each other, and means carried at one end of said switch contact member for pivotal engagement with a switch, said means being releasably retained in position by said resilient means.

6. In an electric switch, a hinge contact provided with an opening, a movable contact member having an opening therein, a pivot pin removably passing through said openings for pivotally connecting said contact member to said hinge contact, and spring means bodily carried by said movable contact member for pressing the hinged end of the latter against said hinge contact around said opening therein.

7. In an electric switch, a hinge contact pro vided with an opening, a movable contact member having an opening therein, a pivot pin removably passing through said openings for pivotally connecting said contact member to said hinge contact, and spring means carried by said movable contact member for pressing the hinged end of the latter against said hinge contact around said opening therein, said spring means having a slotted end portion in which a part of said pin is engaged for releasably holding said pin in said openings.

8. A movable switch contact member comprising a pair of blade members having spaced confronting end portions and resilient means carried by said blade members for biasing said end portions toward each other, said resilient means comprising a nat spring secured to an intermediate part of one of said blade members and resiliently pressing on one of said confronting end protions ior biasing the latter toward the other of said confronting end portions.

9. A switch contact member comprising a pair of blade members each having a laterally offset recessed portion, said recessed portions being positioned back to back to form two bifurcated end portions, and resilient means for biasing the companion parts of said bifurcated portions toward each other, said resilient means comprising a pair of flat springs positioned at the outer sides of said blade members, respectively, and extending longitudinally thereof, and means securing said springs to said blade members, respectively, at points spaced from said bifurcated portions.

10. A movable switch contact member co-; prising a pair of blade members each having a laterally offset portion forming a recess, said oiset portions being positioned back to back to form two bifurcated portions, resilient means for biasing the ends of each of said bifurcated portions toward each other, and means positioned in at least one of said recessed portions for moving said contact member, said resilient means comprising a pair of at springs positioned at the outer sides of said blade members, respectively, and extending longitudinally thereof, and means securing said springs to said blade members, respectively, at points spaced from said bifurcated portions, said last mentioned mea-ns including portions of said means for moving the contact member.

11. A switch constructed as deiined by claim wherein said resilient means comprises a pair of at springs positioned at the outer sides of said blade members, respectively, and extending longitudinally thereof and secured to intermediate portions of said blade members, respectively, each of said flat springs terminating in opposite free end portions bearing on the companion blade adjacent said bifurcated portions, respectively.

12. In an electric switch having a hinge contact and a rupture contact, a movable contact member comprising opposite bifurcated end portions, a pivot pin hinging one of said bifurcated end portions to said hinge contact with the latter positioned between the urcations of said one of said end portions, the other bifurcated end por i,

tion being slidably engageable with said rupture contact at the opposite sides of the latter, and resilient means carried by said contact member,

said means being common to both of said end portions and concomitantly biasing the furcations of each of said end portions toward each other for resiliently pressing them against the opposite sides, respectively, of said hinge and rupture contacts, respectively.

13. A switch as denned by claim l2, wherein said pin is removable and said resilient means comprises a flat spring having a part which releasably engages said pin for holding the latter in position.

14. A switch as defined by claim l2, wherein said contact member comprises a pair of blade members having confronting laterally offset intermediate portions secured to each other and thus forming said bifurcated end portions and wherein said resilient means comprising a pair of flat springs positioned at the outer sides of said blade members, respectively, and extending longitudinally thereof, said springs being secured to intermediate portions of said blade members.

15. 1n an electric switch having a hinge contact and a rupture contact, a movable contact member comprising opposite bifurcated end portions, a pivot pin hinging one of said bi'iurcated end portions to said hinge contact with the latter positioned between the furcations of said one of said end portions, the other bifurcated end portion being slidably engageable with said rupture contact at the opposite sides of the latter, and resilient means carried by said contact member, said means being common to both of said end portions and concomitantly biasing the furcations of each of said end portions toward each other for resiliently pressing them against the opposite sides, respectively, of said hinge and rupture contacts, respectively, said contact member comprising a pair of blade members having confronting laterally offset intermediate portions secured to each other and thus forming said bifurcated end portions, and insulated means secured to said intermediate portions of said blade members for actuating said contact member to engage and disengage said rupture contact.

16. A switch as defined by claim 15 wherein said resilient means comprises a pair of flat springs positioned at the outer sides of said blade members, respectively, and extending longitudinally thereof.

17. A switch defined by claim l5 wherein said resilient means comprises a. pair oi flat springs positioned at the outer sides of said blade members, respectively, and extending longitudinally thereof and wherein said nat springs are secured to said intermediate portions of said blade members and have free end portions which press the furcations of said bifurcations, respectively, toward each other and against the opposite sides of said hinge and rupture contacts, respectively.

18. A switch as dened by claim l5 wherein said resilient means comprises a pair of flat springs positioned at the outer sides of said blade members, respectively, and extending longitudinally thereof and wherein said nat springs are secured intermediate the opposite ends thereof to said insulated means and thus secured to said blade members intermediate the opposite ends of the latter.

19. A switch as dened by claim 15 wherein said resilient means comprises a pair of fiat springs positioned at the outer sides of said blade members, respectively, and extending longitudinally thereof and wherein said flat springs are secured intermediate the opposite ends thereof to REFERENCES CITED Said insulated means and thus Secured to Said The following references are of record in the blade members intermediate the opposite ends of me of -this patent:

the latter and wherein said pin is removable and is held releasably in position by one of said flat 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS springs. Number Name Date 1,891,935 Lapsley Dec. 2'7, 1932 PAUL M- CHRISTENSEN- 1,983,687 Jackson Jan. 22, 1935 2,371,755 Glson Mar. 20, 1945 10 2,498,531 Cole Feb. 21, 1950 

